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Dankov - a city (since 1957) in Russia, the administrative center of the Dankovsky district of the Lipetsk region. It forms the city of the same name with the city of Dankov with the status of an urban settlement as the only settlement in its composition.
Dankov is a quaint town in Lipetsk Oblast, Central Russia, situated on the banks of the Don River, approximately 86 kilometers northwest of Lipetsk. With a population of around 18,000, it serves as the administrative center of Dankovsky District. Founded in the 16th century as a fortress to defend against Tatar invasions, Dankov evolved from a military outpost into a trade and industrial hub during the imperial era, known for its grain markets, merchant mansions, and later Soviet-era developments like factories and memorials. Its history includes destructions in the 17th century, revolutionary activities in the early 20th century, and a key role in WWII defenses. Today, the town's sights blend historical architecture, religious landmarks, cultural institutions, and natural spots, making it a hidden gem for those interested in Russian provincial heritage. While not a major tourist destination, its attractions offer insights into local folklore, artistry, and wartime valor, often set against the scenic Don River valley.
Tikhvin Cathedral (Sobor Tikhvinskoy Ikony Bozhiey Materi)
The
centerpiece of Dankov's skyline, this grand six-altar church was
constructed in 1872 in the Russo-Byzantine style, characterized by its
white semi-columns, ornate friezes, figured columns, and striking blue
domes adorned with golden stars. The structure features a prominent
porch with intricate columns, a large light drum under the main dome,
and smaller drums with cupolas, creating a harmonious and majestic
silhouette. Historically, the cathedral's origins tie to a local legend:
in 1817, after devastating fires allegedly started by a Polish soldier,
a miraculous Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God was discovered, prompting
the church's dedication. It functioned as a spiritual hub until the
1920s, when it was repurposed as a club and warehouse during Soviet
anti-religious campaigns. Restoration began in 1994, reviving its role
in community worship. Visitors are drawn to its serene interior for
services, prayer, and reflection, as well as its exterior for
photography against the Don River backdrop. It's a symbol of faith's
endurance amid historical turmoil and a must-see for architecture
enthusiasts exploring Central Russia's ecclesiastical heritage.
Church of John the Theologian (Tserkov Ioanna Bogoslova)
This stone
church, replacing an earlier wooden structure from 1628, stands as one
of Dankov's oldest surviving religious sites. Built in a simple yet
elegant style with a bell tower, it unified two parishes in the 19th
century and hosted an anti-alcohol society in the early 20th century—a
progressive initiative for its time. Closed in 1933 and used as a
warehouse and store during Soviet rule, it was restored and reopened in
1995. Unique rumors of unexplained phenomena add a layer of intrigue,
though it's primarily valued for its historical continuity. Reasons to
visit include attending services, exploring its modest interiors, and
contemplating its role in community life through centuries of change.
Located on Ulitsa 8 Marta, 1, it's a peaceful spot for those interested
in Orthodox history and local folklore.
Church of George the
Victorious (Khram Georgiya Pobedonostsa)
Erected in 1792 in an
eclectic style to commemorate a burned-down predecessor from 1781, this
church features a cubic altar section, an octagonal drum, a green dome,
a portico with columns, kokoshniki (decorative arches), and a three-tier
bell tower. It was closed in the 1930s but reopened in 1946, surviving
as a beacon of faith. The frequent windows with ornate frames and golden
cupola highlight its architectural charm. Situated in the Kazaki
microdistrict, it's ideal for visitors seeking active worship sites or
examples of 18th-century Russian church design, offering a sense of
tranquility and historical depth.
Church of the Nativity of
Christ (Tserkov Rozhdestva Khristova)
This red-brick edifice, built
at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries in eclectic and Russo-Byzantine
styles, includes a tented bell tower, high porch, ornamental frieze, and
ribbed tent roof. Features like keel-shaped zakomary (gables) and round
kokoshniki add to its visual appeal. Closed in 1934 and used as a
warehouse, it was returned to the church in 2005. In the Storozhevaya
Sloboda area, it's a compelling visit for its restored interiors,
services, and representation of pre-revolutionary ecclesiastical
architecture in a provincial setting.
Dankov Local Lore Museum (Dankovsky Kraevedchesky Muzey)
Housed in
the 1760 Dmitriya Solunskogo Church—a pseudo-Russian architectural
monument—this museum was established in 1961 based on Don River
archaeological finds by local enthusiasts. Exhibits span archaeology,
Dankov's history, the Revolution, WWII, and a gallery with over 1,000
Russian artworks in the "Malaya Tretyakovka" (Small Tretyakov Gallery),
curated by artist A.I. Plotnov. Highlights include a Donkov fortress
model and temporary exhibits in the "Art Living Room" for literary
meetings. As the region's only major art repository, it's essential for
understanding local culture, with reasons to visit including educational
tours and immersion in Russia's artistic legacy. Address: Ulitsa Karla
Marksa, 3.
Planetarium
The only planetarium in Lipetsk Oblast,
opened in 1975 by enthusiast I.F. Shevlyakov in a basement setting with
cosmic-themed stained glass. It offers astronomy lectures, star and
planet projections using vintage Soviet equipment that's been
periodically updated. Programs cater to schoolchildren and adults,
fostering wonder about the universe. Located at Ulitsa Volodarskogo, 44,
it's a unique educational draw for families, providing interactive
sessions and emotional uplift through celestial exploration.
District House of Culture (Rayonny Dom Kultury)
Built in 1959 in
classical style with a portico, frieze, columns, and statues, this
center includes theater and dance studios, a library, reading room,
children's game area, and auditorium. It has nurtured generations of
talents through performances and events. The vibrant decor and community
programs make it a hub for cultural leisure, concerts, and family
activities. Address: Ulitsa Lenina, 18.
Cultural-Leisure Center
"Don" (Kulturno-Dosugovy Tsentr "Don")
Originally a 1966 cinema, this
center features a auditorium with 3D and surround sound, plus a lounge
vestibule. It hosts creative groups, celebrations, and film screenings.
As a modern venue for entertainment, it's perfect for movie nights or
local events. Address: Ulitsa Uritskogo, 1.
Dankov's 19th-century merchant heritage is evident in several
preserved mansions, showcasing eclectic and classical styles:
House of Merchant Stepan Bardin: Late 19th-century two-story mansion
with gates, outbuildings, semi-columns, and arched pediments, painted
burgundy. Linked to a merchant executed in 1918; features a memorial at
the execution site. Ideal for appreciating kupets (merchant)
architecture. Address: Ulitsa Karla Marksa, 16.
Vinogradova's Women's
Gymnasium: Palace-like building with rounded volumes, galleries,
columns, and stucco patterns from late 19th century. Originally a
merchant's home, it became a gymnasium in 1909, then a school and
medical college. Under restoration as cultural heritage. Address: Ulitsa
Karla Marksa, 24.
Balzaminov Restaurant Building: Mid-19th-century
hybrid with stone ground floor and wooden upper level featuring
carvings, casings, and cornice. Restored in 2016 as a restaurant evoking
19th-century ambiance. Great for dining with historical flair. Address:
Ulitsa Karla Marksa, 28.
House of Merchant Popov: With forged
balcony, loggia on supports, and eclectic elements; in need of repair
but architecturally intriguing. Address: Ulitsa Uritskogo, 7.
House
of Merchant Lebedev: Two-story with helmet-shaped dome over central
part, light blue; built mid-19th century for a baker with a mill. Unique
dome adds distinction. Address: Ulitsa Uritskogo, 36.
These
houses reflect Dankov's prosperous trade era, offering walking tours for
history buffs.
Victory Park (Park Pobedy)
This landscaped park honors WWII
victory with an Empire-style arcade entrance, pathways, flower beds,
"Pobeda" grass sculptures, a sports playground, Alley of Glory with Hero
busts, steles listing fallen soldiers, and a central monument of
soldiers with a red flag. It serves as an eco-friendly relaxation spot
for festivals, strolls, and patriotic gatherings, blending nature with
remembrance. Address: Ulitsa Lenina, 15.
Pioneers-Heroes Park
(Park Pionerov-Geroyev)
Dedicated to young partisans and
revolutionaries, this park features a red granite wall with slogans and
bas-reliefs, busts of 13 pioneer-heroes, and birch/linden groves. It
commemorates schoolchildren who fought for Soviet power during the
Revolution and WWII. Cultural and patriotic events are held here, making
it suitable for reflective walks and education. Address: Pereulok
Krasnova / Ulitsa Lenina.
Monument to Unreturned Soldiers
(Pamyatnik "Nevernuvshimsya Soldatam")
A poignant bronze sculpture of
a soldier in a telnyashka (striped shirt) on rocks, with a memorial
plaque of names and poetry. Dedicated to those lost in local conflicts,
it's emotionally charged and located near Tikhvin Cathedral for quiet
tribute.
Pontoners Monument (Pamyatnik "Pontonyoram")
Featuring a boat sculpture depicting the battalion's path, this memorial
honors the 131st Motorized Pontoon Battalion from 1942-1943. Set on the
Don River bank, it was unveiled with veterans present, offering insights
into WWII engineering feats.
V.I. Ermakov Monument
A 2017 bust
in Lipovy Skver honoring the 19th-century mayor who advanced
infrastructure, founded a bank and school, and contributed to journalism
and local studies. The skver (square) was community-funded on a former
dump site. Read Ermakov's book for deeper context.
Memorial of
Glory (Memorial Slavy)
A complex with an eternal flame, wall listing
771 WWII fallen, and other elements commemorating sacrifices. It's a
solemn site for remembrance ceremonies.
Syr-Borev Maslovka Farm
Ranked as Dankov's top attraction, this
cheese farm ("syr" means cheese) offers tours of production processes,
tastings of local dairy products, and insights into rural life. Set in
picturesque countryside near the Don River, it combines agriculture with
eco-tourism, including scenic views and possibly animal interactions.
It's family-friendly and provides a break from urban sights,
highlighting the region's farming traditions.
Physical Culture
and Health Center (Fizkulturno-Ozdorovitelny Tsentr)
A modern sports
complex with a gym, pool, sports halls, and outdoor stadium in the
Khimzavod settlement. Adjacent to park areas, it's equipped for workouts
with trainers, promoting health and activity amid Dankov's natural
surroundings.
By train
To the railway station Dankov.
By bus
Routes to Moscow from Mira St. and the bus station several times a
day, from Moscow from the square near Paveletsky station and Metro
station blue.png metro station Schelkovskaya.
Stopping point
Dankov, st. Mira, d. 75, Bldg. 2. ☎ +74746561765. Intercity routes
to Moscow, Lipetsk, Chaplygin, Lebedyan depart from the stopping
point.
There are several bus routes in the city, most of which take about one hour. It is more convenient to move around the city by taxi, the fare is 60 rubles within the city.
1 Balizik Dankov mini-hotel, st. Gorky, 2. ☎ +7 (980) 353-26-20.
2 Hotel "Lights", st. Mira, 11/1. ☎ +7 (909) 221-44-43.
3 Hotel
"Dankov" (at the bathhouse) , st. Ostrovsky, 2. ☎ +7 (960)
113-76-91.
4 Voyage Hotel, st. Michurina, 2a. ☎ +7 (920)
512-98-80. They also offer daily rentals.
5 Hotel "Silan", st.
Zaitseva, 31. ☎ +7 (47465) 6-36-60.
Cafe "Bashnya", st. Michurina, 5a. 11:00–22:00.
Restaurant
"Balzaminov", st. Karla Marksa, 28. Mon 12:00–16:00, Tue–Sun
12:00–24:00.
Restaurant "Christy", st. Vermisheva, 8 (corner of Karl
Marx street). According to visitors, this is "anything but not a
restaurant."
The cafe at the Ogni Hotel has the most decent view.
Old Donkov
The name of the city comes from the ancient city of
Donkov, which was part of the Ryazan principality, which was burned by
the Mongol-Tatars. Now the village of Streshnevo, Dankovsky district, is
located on that place.
Old Dankov was a fortress that carried out
defensive service to protect the borders of the first Ryazan
principality, and then the borders of the Moscow state from the Crimean
and Nogai Tatars. Next to the fortress was the first pier on the Don,
from where merchants sent their carts to Azov, Kafa, Constantinople.
In 1521, the city was completely destroyed and burned by the hordes
of the Crimean Khan Makhmet Giray.
New Dankov
According to
written sources, the modern settlement existed in 1568, when Prince
Vladimir Konstantinovich Kurlyatev and the boyar son Grigory Stepanovich
Sidorov were sent to Dankov to "establish cities".
The city,
surrounded by wooden walls, with its advantageous strategic position,
more than once became an insurmountable obstacle in the way of foreign
hordes. The servants who guarded the fortress - archers, Cossacks,
gunners - settled near the fortress, and in their free time they were
engaged in agriculture.
The border service in the fortress was
conducted steadfastly and regularly. And yet the city was repeatedly
burned by the Tatars. At the end of the 17th century, Tatar raids
ceased. The defensive value of Dankov is falling. Losing the appearance
of a city - a fortress, it turns into a city of artisans and merchants.
Imperial period
For fifty years the city of Dankov was listed in
the Voronezh province, since 1778 Dankov has been a county town.
In 1804 it received the status of a county town; Dankovsky district was
formed as part of the Ryazan province.
There were no longer any
military fortifications. In the pre-revolutionary period, the city was
famous for its fairs, where they traded horses, cattle, agricultural
products, handicrafts and factory production.
In the 19th
century, Dankov was a fairly large bread trading center. Its economic
importance is growing, which is facilitated by the construction of a
railway to the city and the construction of an elevator in 1890. Stone
two-story houses of wealthy merchants appeared. In 1909, a private
women's gymnasium was opened, and in 1912, a state-owned men's
gymnasium. The city also had hospitals, male and female elementary
schools, a religious school, a library, a noble-merchant club and a
small cinema.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Dankov was
one of the centers of revolutionary propaganda. From here agitators went
to villages and villages, revolutionary leaflets were sent out.
1905 - 1907 were marked by mass peasant uprisings, unrest on the
territory of the county.
In the spring of 1915, during the First
World War, the 470th Dankovsky Infantry Regiment was formed. The 470th
Dankovsky Regiment was one of the first to be sent to the front as part
of the 118th Infantry Division. He especially distinguished himself in
battles in the Baltic, as well as in the defense of the land sector of
the Moonsund Archipelago in 1917.
Early Soviet period
By the
end of January 1918, Soviet power was fully established in Dankovo.
During the civil war, Dankovsky Uyezd supplied the Red Army and the
working people of industrial cities with food. In 1919 Mikhail Ivanovich
Kalinin visited the city.
In the 20-30s. the industry of the city
is gradually developing.
Since 1925, Dankov has been called a
village, in 1941 - an urban workers' settlement.
From July 30,
1928 it was part of the Central Black Earth Region, then from 1934 it
was part of the Voronezh Region.
On July 15, 1932, the Dankovsky
crushed stone plant was formed
On December 22, 1932, the
development of the Dankovsky dolomite deposit began,
On September
26, 1937 - in the Ryazan region.
In the autumn of 1938, the
construction of a chemical plant began on the basis of the Rastkauchuk
plant.
In August 1941, the headquarters of the Dankovsky fortified area was
located in the building of the district executive committee on Uritsky
Street. The head of the fortified area was Lieutenant Colonel P.K.
Lomachinsky, who was subordinate to the command of the South-Western
Front, and from December 18, 1941 - to the newly formed Bryansk Front.
On September 24, 1941, an order came from the Special Office of the
NKPS to move the factories to the east, and preparations began for
sending equipment and materials.
The district committee of the
party, together with the military registration and enlistment office,
began to recruit two destruction battalions. The heads of enterprises,
collective farms, workers and employees who were on armor from being
drafted to the front were enrolled in extermination battalions in early
October, which, in the event of the occupation of Dankov, were to switch
to the partisan method of struggle.
In autumn, a military
airfield is being built in Dankovo. It housed the 778th Aviation
Regiment.
On November 19, military units of the 3rd Army of the
Southwestern Front entered Dankov and settled in the dormitories and
workshops of the rubble plant and other enterprises of the city.
The entire population of Dankov participated in the construction of
defensive fortifications. All the streets of Dankov on the western side
were blocked off with stone barricades 1.5–2 m high and of the same
width. The stone for these purposes was taken at the rubble plant. Along
the bank of the Don, anti-tank hedgehogs were laid in four rows. The
entire left bank of the Don in the area, from the village of Romanovo to
the village of Begichevo, was pitted with trenches and communication
passages 1.7 m deep. An anti-tank ditch was dug against each ford in the
Don River, where tanks could pass. Anti-tank ditches were also dug in
other tank-hazardous directions. On the left bank of the Don, a defense
in depth was built to a depth of 5-7 km. Pillboxes, bunkers, command
posts were built.
The occupation of Dankov could have taken place
on December 6-10. In November-December 1941, Dankov acquired strategic
importance in the conduct of the Yelets-Efremov operation to defeat the
Germans thanks to the railway station. It was the final front-line
point, from where the troops continued on their own, occupying
front-line positions from Chernava in the north to Telepnevo in the
south of the region, about 80 km along the front line.
For
concrete decisions on the counteroffensive, the commander of the
Southwestern Front, Marshal of the Soviet Union Timoshenko Semyon
Konstantinovich, arrived in Dankov.
The 3rd Army of General Ya.
G. Kreizer, located in the area of \u200b\u200bthe settlements of
Telepnevo, Voskresenskoye, Plakhovo, Avdulovo, went on the offensive in
the area of \u200b\u200bEfremov on December 11 in order to liberate the
city. To develop a strike in the Efremov area, on December 6, the
Headquarters of the Supreme High Command transfers the 61st reserve army
through the Dankov station.
Military hospitals No. 3012 and 1076
were already operating on the basis of the Dankovskaya hospital, in the
premises of school No. I, in a former orphanage on Bolshaya Sadovaya
Street.
During the Great Patriotic War, the 131st separate
motor-pontoon bridge battalion was formed here, which went through a
combat path from Dankov to Berlin.
In 1943, there was no longer a
need to maintain militia formations, some of them were drafted into the
army, and those who remained on the armor did the same work. Without
participating in the battles, the battalions were disbanded, the
warehouses were taken out, the pits were buried. The headquarters of the
Dankovsky fortified area went to the west.
During the war years,
16,361 people went to the front from the Dankovsky district. Did not
return - 7386 people.
In 1951, the Dankovskaya hydroelectric power station was built.
January 6, 1954 Dankovsky district, formed in 1928, is part of the
Lipetsk region. Berezovsky and Voskresensky districts were attached to
it.
On February 16, 1959, the working settlement of Dankov
received the status of a city of district subordination, and since 1963
- of regional subordination.
Since 1959, the left-bank part of
the city began to be built up.
In 1960, a bridge was built across
the Don River.
In 1961, the Dankovskaya CHPP was built.
Modern period
In 2014, the Lipetskagro Greenhouse Plant was opened.
In 2019, the yeast factory of the Chinese company "Angel East Rus"
was opened
In 2021, the central bridge across the Don River was
being repaired.
At the end of 2021, the first Russian Jerusalem
artichoke processing plant, IstAgroDon, was launched in Dankovo.
The coat of arms of the Dankovsky district was adopted on March 25, 2005. In the red field - a silver sword with a tarch (round shield), in the green field - a silver horse. The coat of arms was based on the historical coat of arms of Dankov, approved on May 29, 1779. Then, for the first time, a silver horse standing in a green field appeared on the city coat of arms, which means that this city is famous for horse fairs. A sword with a shield symbolizes military glory. The wavy division of the shield allegorically indicates the location of the region on the Don.
It is located on the Don River at the confluence of the Vyazovna
River.
Located on the eastern slopes of the Central Russian
Upland.
Near Dankov is the Kulikovo field.
Population - 19
726 people. (2021).
The city is divided into several districts:
Pushkari
microdistrict (former Pushkarskaya Sloboda)
Microdistrict Streltsy
(former Streltsy Sloboda)
Microdistrict Bogoslovka
Microdistrict
Kulikovka
Microdistrict Tulyanka
Microdistrict Cossacks (former
Cossack Sloboda)
Microdistrict Storozhevskaya (former Storozhevskaya
Sloboda)
Yuzhny microdistrict
Microdistrict Pridonskoy
Neighborhood of the state farm Dankovsky (Sovkhoz)
Settlement of the
Dolomite Combine (Shchebzavod)
The village of Khimzavod
A temperate continental climate prevails. Summers are warm and short. Winters are long and cold. The average annual rainfall is 460 mm. The warmest month is July with an average temperature of 19.2 °C, while the coldest month is January with an average temperature of −10.0 °C.
Vasily Ivanovich Ermakov - merchant, mayor, philanthropist and local
historian.
Vasily Ivanovich Altufiev - a military official, a small
estate nobleman.
Vissarion Vissarionovich Grigoriev - Soviet naval
figure, vice admiral, commander of the Dnieper military flotilla,
candidate of geographical sciences.
Gennady Alekseevich Grishin -
Soviet and Russian football player, midfielder. Master of Sport.
Anatoly Vasilievich Karikh - Soviet military leader, Honored Military
Pilot of the USSR, Major General of Aviation.
Plotnov Andrei
Ivanovich - Soviet and Russian painter and graphic artist, military
artist.
Alexei Konstantinovich Lebedev - Russian Soviet tuba player,
teacher, composer, professor at the Moscow Conservatory.
Pyotr
Makarovich Khupotsky - Russian teacher; Bachelor of MDA.
Bishop
Theophilus - Bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church, Bishop of Samara and
Stavropol.